Project 460729

Immersive technologies (IT) such as augmented and virtual reality are promising tools to treat pain in both children and adults. Most of our knowledge of how IT work comes from acute (short lasting) pain. IT are a new type of treatment for chronic (longer lasting) pain. Thus, we need to have experts' agreement on best practices for how these technologies are designed and used to treat chronic pain and how to test whether they are effective. This project will bring together experts to reach agreement on the best practices for IT with respect to research methods, outcome measures to evaluate impact, and how to scale up implementation of use for children and adults with chronic pain. Our goal will be achieved by completing four steps: • Phase 1: We assembled a group of IT experts across North America to share lessons learned and to generate recommendations to advancing the IT field. • Phase 2: We are working on a study to review and summarize existing information about IT research methods, effectiveness, and clinical implementation. • Phase 3: We will conduct an electronic survey of experts to reach agreement on current research methods, outcome measures used, gaps in IT research, and barriers and facilitators to implementation using information gathered from step 2. Information from these three steps will be used to guide the next step (the focus of this research proposal). • Phase 4: We will hold a face-to-face meeting, or if needed a virtual meeting, among experts and people with chronic pain to reach agreement on the best practices on how to evaluate (through a core set of outcomes) and scale up implementation of IT to treat chronic pain. We also aim to (a) develop a toolkit for researchers and clinicians to guide the implementation of IT treatments for children and adults with chronic pain and b) identify a plan to address research gaps. Finally, we will develop a plan for quickly and effectively informing key stakeholders about the results of our work.